Government funding, contract management and infrastructure service delivery in Tororo municipal council

Abstract

The study examined the mediating effect of contract management on the relationship between government funding and infrastructure service delivery in Tororo Municipal Council, Uganda. The study was guided by the following specific objectives: to assess the effect of government funding on infrastructure service delivery in Tororo Municipal Council; to examine the effect of government funding on contract management in Tororo Municipal Council; to determine the effect of contract management on infrastructure service delivery in Tororo Municipal Council; and to analyze the mediating role of contract management on the relationship between government funding and infrastructure service delivery in Tororo Municipal Council. The study was underpinned by the Resource Dependence Theory, which explains the reliance of organizations on external financial and material resources. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design and employed a quantitative approach. The study population comprised 333 staff members of Tororo Municipal Council, from which a sample of 181 respondents was selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 27 through descriptive statistics, correlation, and regression analysis. The results revealed that government funding had a significant positive effect on contract management; government funding had a significant effect on infrastructure service delivery; contract management had a significant effect on infrastructure service delivery; and contract management partially mediated the relationship between government funding and infrastructure service delivery. The study concluded that adequate and timely government funding enhances infrastructure service delivery both directly and indirectly through effective contract management practices. The study recommends that Tororo Municipal Council strengthen the timeliness and adequacy of government funding, improve contract planning, execution, and monitoring mechanisms, and institutionalize transparent financial management systems to ensure value for money in infrastructure development. The study was however constrained by time limitations linked to academic deadlines, which reduced the period available for data gathering and analysis. To manage this challenge, structured questionnaires were used, and trained research assistants were deployed to ensure timely and accurate data collection. This enhanced the reliability of results within the limited timeframe.